Chelsea captain Reece James praised his team’s resilience after holding Premier League leaders Arsenal to a 1–1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, despite losing Moises Caicedo to a first-half red card.
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The Blues were dominant for much of the game before Caicedo was sent off in the 36th minute for a studs-up challenge on Mikel Merino. Trailing by numbers, Chelsea still managed to take the lead through Trevor Chalobah’s header early in the second half. Arsenal’s Merino equalised just before the hour mark, but Chelsea held firm to secure a hard-earned point.
“We dominated the game in every area throughout, with 11 men and 10 men,” James said. “That was a big statement on where we are and what we’re fighting for. We’ve come a long way, building on result after result.”
Chelsea’s performance contrasted sharply with earlier instances this season when the team went down to ten men against Manchester United and Brighton, suffering defeats. “The team is so young, but we went toe to toe with the top of the Premier League. We didn’t show fear,” James added.
The draw kept Chelsea in contention, preventing them from falling nine points behind Arsenal, while the Gunners, now five points clear of second-placed Manchester City, were left frustrated.
Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard, who returned from a knee injury as a second-half substitute, acknowledged the difficulty of the match. “They were fighting really hard, and we didn’t do enough to win. It was another big test for us after an important week,” he said.
Chelsea’s display demonstrated tactical discipline and mental strength, reinforcing their ability to challenge top sides despite setbacks on the field.
